My Utmost for His Highest: The Covenant

Description

My Utmost for His Highest: The Covenant is a multi-artist project released on Myrrh Records in 1996, a division of Word. Also distributed by Epic Records, a division of Sony Music. It’s a follow-up to My Utmost for His Highest released by Myrrh Records the previous year.

In 2017, Word Entertainment released yet another multi-artist album entitled My Utmost for His Highest.

Great spiritual minds often leave behind great spiritual writings.

A bit strange, though, is the legacy of one Scottish preacher, Oswald Chambers. When Chambers died at age 43 in 1917, he had written nothing. For several years prior, though, Chamber’s wife had felt prompted to take shorthand transcripts of his sermons. Ten years later, she had edited these notes into the remarkable daily devotional, ‘My Utmost for His Highest’. The unlikely author and his posthumous bestseller have since challenged multitudes of believers to a deeper walk with the Father. Inspired by (and named for) that book, last year’s powerful devotional ‘My Utmost for His Highest‘ recording continued the impact.

With those sales approaching gold status, its sequel, ‘The Covenant’, now enters the market. ‘The Covenant’s theme is twofold: first, to encourage by Chamber’s teachings about God’s promises, and then, to challenge with a solemn call to love and obey such a gracious and glorious God. As before, each song is traced to a dated excerpt from the book.

Michael W. Smith returns as the sole artist from ‘My Utmost’ to contribute to ‘The Covenant’ (performing on two cuts, writing/arranging on four) while talents like Susan Ashton, Anointed, Clay Crosse, BeBe Winans, John Elefante, Lisa Bevill, Greg Long and Joanna Carlson are also enlisted for this companion project.

Continuity between the two projects is provided by the predecessor’s production team and the return of the London Session Orchestra. As before, live orchestral overdubs lend grandeur and an almost startling ambiance to this recording, as proven by the two magnificent orchestral reprises.

«All of Me» celebrates the joy of total surrender to the One who gave Himself fully for us. BeBe Winans’ breathy, calming delivery is stunning. “Love of my life,” he whispers, “Carry me to Your light/ Every breath that I breathe/ All of me.” Cindy Morgan‘s impressionist lyrics brush with light, quick strokes while Smith’s music shimmers and dances in waves.

«Someday», sung by Smith and co-written with David Mullen, looks to the promise of the resurrection. It is optimism based on good theology. Driven with a thin, mercurial guitar over a mesmerizing rhythm, «Someday» is both aural and lyrical artwork. Written by Tommy Greer, «Psalm 121» is bathed in a busy Lanois-style wash. This mural of sound declares God’s covenant to keep and protect us. As always, Susan Ashton’s voice teems with understated passion.

Comparisons between ‘The Covenant’ and its prequel will be difficult to avoid. Yes, busier production has lowered the level of intimacy here. And yes, amid fewer songs and artists, weak material still sneaks into this high-visibility, high-budget release.

All true. Observations like these, though, only exist because the predecessor was so profoundly good. Like little brothers, sequels are often unfairly compared to the firstborn.

On its own merits, ‘The Covenant’ is a fine recording that nobly bridges the gap between “devotions” and “devotion.” Play it in the golden glow of morning while savoring the presence of the Father.

One Scottish preacher surely would have done so. [Phil Christensen, CCM, May 1996]

> iTunes (https://music.apple.com/us/album/my-utmost-for-his-highest-the-covenant/1172685712)

CD tracklist:

01. BeBe Winans – All Of Me – 4:32
02. The London Session Orchestra – Reprise (All Of Me) – 5:02
03. Anointed – The Covenant – 5:00
04. Michael W. Smith – Someday (Set The Children Free) – 5:35
05. Greg Long & Joanna Carlson – Through All The Years – 4:09
06. Susan Ashton – Psalm 121 – 4:22
07. Clay Crosse – Make It A Promise – 4:23
08. John Elefante & Lisa Bevill – I Will Follow You – 4:46
09. The London Session Orchestra – Reprise (My Utmost For His Highest) – 6:14
10. Michael W. Smith & Anointed – Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee – 4:37

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Myrrh Records.

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